Side Bias and Accidents: Are They Related?

Abstract

This study purports to examine the role of different forms of side bias, handedness, footedness, eyedness, and earedness, in eliciting accident-proneness in individuals. A representative sample (N= 150) was administered a Side Bias Questionnaire (Handedness: 22 items, footedness: 5 items, eyedness: 5 items, earedness: 5 items) to ascertain their preferential bias. The questionnaire also required subjects to report the number of accidents committed during their lifetime while performing activities like sports, driving, household work, etc., that required attention of medical professionals. Regression analysis of data indicated that accident-prone behavior was significantly predicted from handedness. Analysis of variance, 3 (Accident groups: low, moderate, high) × 4 (Side bias: hand, foot, eye, ear), indicated that ‘mixed’ handers committed more accidents as compared with clear handers. The other forms of side bias, foot, ear, and eye were unrelated to frequency of accidents.

Keywords:

• Accident
• Handedness
• Side bias